Morning rundown: Selanne, Getzlaf hope to play

Teemu Selanne and Ryan Getzlaf said they will make a final decision on whether they will play for the Ducks tonight against Chicago after they skate in the warm-up prior to the 7 p.m. start at Honda Center.

The two forwards did take part in the morning skate and reported improvement on their respective injuries that occurred in Sunday's 4-2 win over San Jose. Selanne has a sprained left shoulder and Getzlaf aggravated the same left ankle he sprained prior to the Olympic break.

Of the two, Selanne appears to be the surer bet on dressing although he was told not to take any hard shots in the morning workout.

"I think it's just all about handling the pain," said Selanne, who's next goal will make him the 18th player to score 600. "The situation we are in, it's just like a playoff game. Do whatever it takes to get in the lineup."

Selanne said that his equipment is already being fitted for extra padding to protect the shoulder. He acknowledged that he would probably sit out the game if the Ducks didn't desperately need the points.

"If it were November, maybe not," he said. "But we look at this like a playoff game. We know what situation we are [in] and we still have a little hope. We've got to keep battling as long as we have hope."

Getzlaf wouldn't put a percentage on where he's at physically saying that "they don't matter" at this point but he said he felt better than Tuesday.

"It was OK," the Ducks' leading scorer said about skating on the ankle. "It was a little sore here and there. Obviously I went out there to test it out a little bit and warm it up. We'll see how it goes for tonight."

What his decision will come down to is whether he can be effective the whole game without having to come out.

"We're not going to put ourselves in any danger or anything like that where I can't finish the game," Getzlaf said. "Last game was a tough one with not being able to finish. It puts our team in a tough situation."

Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said he just needs to get the affirmative from his two stars and they're in. Kyle Calder was recalled from the Toronto Marlies (AHL) as a possibility in case either Selanne or Getzlaf can't go.

"It doesn't change for me. They tell me they're available to play, we'll make the decision. And I guarantee you it'll be 100 percnet yes, you'll play. Once a player tells you he's healthy and he says he can play, then it's a decision where do you think he can help your lineup. I think both players can help our lineup."

-- Carlyle said that he's been trying to find the right spot for veteran Jason Blake. Blake has been playing on the left side mostly with Selanne and Saku Koivu but with rookie Dan Sexton faring well again alongside Koivu against San Jose, Blake has been shifted to the third line.

"I personally think he's a right winger," Carlyle said. "That's where his strength is. And some games we haven't had the luxury of leaving him on the right side. I think that's where his speed is best utilized. He can go down that right side. He can go to the net. He can stop off and create more off of that.

"We've had to play him on the left side, which has been a little bit out of position for him. He's played predominately right wing the last four or five years in the league."

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